is world traveller business class

British Airways World Traveller Plus Review: Is it Worth It?

By: Author Amanda OBrien

Posted on Last updated: 19/03/2024

In 2017 I flew premium economy with Qantas Sydney to Hong Kong return. It was a fantastic experience.

In fact, it was so good it made me question if I could really justify the extra amount to fly business class if it wasn’t an Australia – Europe/US flight.

So when was looking at flying from London to New York – and then Los Angeles to London return – I thought I would give British Airways World Traveller Plus a shot. Which I did back in 2018 and I recently flew with British Airways World Traveller Plus post-Covid in 2022.

I’m going to kick off with an update from 2022 when I flew from Portland to London Heathrow with British Airways in premium economy. My older review involved flying out of London Heathrow so it has quite a bit of information on checking in at Heathrow etc.

⇒ Click here for Prices and Deals on British Airways

British Airways World Traveller Plus 2022 update

After a long break flying with British Airways in World Traveller Plus I signed up again to try them out in July of 2022. I was flying from London to Washington DC, and then home to London out of Portland. I received an offer that was too good to refuse to upgrade to business class on the flight from Heathrow to Washington DC. This review update covers the Portland to London Heathrow leg in premium economy.

I somehow managed to end up on British Airways’s first (not sure if this is the first ever flight but it was certainly the first for a while) direct flight out of Portland to Heathrow. Everyone was in a great mood and there was even cake and sandwiches at the boarding gate for everyone!

As such, we had a very nice new 787 that I believe was a Dreamliner. Few things make me happier than realizing that I am on a relatively new plane as it always means a huge improvement in the premium economy experience.

When I mentioned to the crew that Virgin Atlantic offers its premium economy passengers prosecco the attendant even went and got me a glass of champagne from business class! As I said, all were in a joyous mood.

To be honest, not a lot has changed since the last time I flew World Traveller Plus with British Airways. The 787 I was on had only three rows of premium economy seats. I quite liked this as it normally means faster service and I feel more of a sense of space when the area is smaller. The seat layout was 2-3-2.

I had booked in my window seat when I booked the flight as I always do on overnight flights (I find it worth it to pay a bit extra at booking to achieve this).

One thing that has improved is the quality of the headphones in premium economy which are now noise cancelling. Also, the quality of the food on offer has improved. I enjoyed a very nice steak.

The Dreamliner 787 also has new touch-operated window screens and better cabin pressurization. If you are able to choose your flight and can see the different planes available, I suggest checking to find the Dreamliner 787 option for world traveller plus as it is definitely a step above premium economy on some of BA’s other planes.

British Airways World Traveller Plus Review (2017): Online Check-In

Unfortunately, things with British Airways World Traveler plus did not get off to a good start. Two days before my flight I went on to the British Airways app and was able to reserve one of the aisles British Airways Premium Economy seats – great.

The next day, when I went to actually check in online I was told that my passport number was wrong and that I wasn’t able to check in.

I then had issues with my uber so only arrived at the airport 90 minutes before my British Airways flight.

British Airways Premium Economy: Bag Drop and issues arise

I went and used the check-in machine for my premium economy British Airways flight and my seat had changed to a window – which was good news for me. Then I went to the desk for bag drop.

When the attendant is on the phone for some time when all you do is drop your bag, it is not a good sign. I was told by the attendant that I had been “sneaky” taking the window seat.

I was quite annoyed by this and asked how could I be sneaky when the app had done this for me. I was then told that they had overbooked business class and that seat had been meant for someone who was being downgraded to premium economy on British Airways – which meant they now wanted to move me to British Airways economy class.

I was so annoyed. It really makes me furious when airlines do this. Or should I say when British Airways do this as they are the only airline that has tried to bump me from flights several times due to overbooking.

In what other industry would an organization take your money ahead of time and then when you turned up to experience that service be told that you couldn’t as they had overbooked – and that apparently this was fine?

It is a major problem as a solo traveler as we are at the top of the list when it comes to who gets bumped first when it comes to air travel.

A British Airways staff member once told me that the safest people were those also flying with British Airways from a connecting airport eg Manchester to London and then on to say NY, followed by groups, followed by families and then by couples.

Only the male solo traveler is worse off than the female solo traveler. My annoyance was greater as I had injured my ankle in Nepal earlier that year and absolutely could not have sat in an economy seat for several hours without problems.

Luckily I had a letter from my doctor with me (I had it in case my ankle got worse and I needed medical treatment) so I was able to produce this and say I had to stay in British Air premium economy.

I ended up in British Airways Economy Plus but not without quite a bit of undue stress and frustration. This experience alone has been enough to really put me off flying with British Airways.

I do find it outrageous that you can be potentially bumped like this – and that the staff always seem to act like this is of no consequence and why are you getting upset? OK rant over!

British Airways Premium Economy Review: Getting to the Gate

Anyway, the flight was then at Gate A10 at Terminal 5, which means a very long bus trip. I thought we were driving to New York.

BA World Traveller Plus also means no lounge access and no priority seating.

British Airways World Traveller Plus Review: The plane and the seats

The British Airways World Traveller Plus 777 plane was a little old and compared to Qantas it felt a lot less spacious. The seat layout was 4 in the middle and 2 on each side.

I was on the side thank goodness. I would have been very unhappy to have paid for premium economy and to have had one of the extreme middle seats.

I often wonder who ends up in these seats – are they the people that don’t make sure they do early online check-in? Or maybe they are more tolerant than me.

BA World Traveller Plus Review: In-flight amenities

British Airways Premium Economy 747 has good quality headphones which were nice. The British Airways premium economy product also does have a very good in-flight entertainment system.

The British Airways Premium Economy in-flight amenity kit was not bad – socks, eye mask, earplugs, toothbrush and a pen. Great idea to have a pen as everyone needs one on a flight.

There is a lot of legroom and the seats are comfortable on the British Airways 787 Premium Economy flight. I was also pleased to see that there were 2 USB ports in the seat ahead and then 2 power points between the seats.

The food was a big positive for this World Traveller plus review 777 writer. It did feel like an upgrade from economy. We were also offered a lovely glass of sparkling wine before take-off.

Premium Economy British Airways Review: Some Positives

One of my favourite features of British Airways premium economy 777 is that they have a very useful brochure which explains all the features and benefits of the world traveler plus seat – this is such a good idea.

Every premium economy and business class seat is different and you don’t want to miss out when good features can be used.

There was also a good-sized storage locker next to the window which was handy – another reason trying to get the window seat is one of my top tips.

World Traveller vs World Traveller Plus

In March 2018 British Airways made major upgrades to its World Traveller and British Airways Premium Economy 777 cabins at Gatwick on their Boeing 777s.

Both cabins have had their entertainment screens increased by 50% in size. I’m looking forward to checking out the new six-way headrest.

Interestingly these new planes will feature a considerable increase in the number of World Traveller Plus seats – coming from a reduction in Club World. Premium Economy is on the rise.

So what about the rest of the fleet? World Traveller Plus is a major improvement on World Traveller, which doesn’t offer the best seats. Also, there are few opportunities to upgrade within World Traveller – apart from the exit rows.

If you have a long flight or an overnight flight I think the upgrade cost is absolutely worth it.

Upgrading to British Airways Club World

Theoretically, being in BA World Traveller Plus means it is easier/more likely that you can be upgraded to Club World. BA does offer paid opportunities for upgrades but not all the time – and not necessarily at the best prices.

The best way to check if this is an option for your flight is to visit the Manage My Booking page. The price generally varies between 400 and 700 GBPs.

For frequent flyers, Avios points are a good option for upgrading – or combining Avios points with payment. It is not normally the best use of Avios to upgrade (they tend to be their most effective for less-visited longer trips in economy class in my experience) but it is a good option.

Finally, if you are a frequent flyer and flying World Traveller Plus there is a greater opportunity for an upgrade. This will most likely happen when World Traveller Plus has been booked out and business class has seats.

British Airways Premium Economy: The Verdict

Overall, the seat itself is the key difference between world traveller and world traveller plus on British Airways.

On Qantas and other airlines, there does feel like there is more of a difference between the two cabins – particularly when it comes to service.

I was flying with British Airways when they were having extensive problems as an airline so it could not have been fun to be working for them at that time.

However, I am paying the extra and in my view, I do expect a slightly better service. I would hesitate to take British Airways Premium Economy again – mostly driven by nearly being downgraded to economy.

I don’t want to have to worry about this when I am headed to Heathrow. I, of course, would fly with them if there was a good enough deal, but they have certainly moved down my list after this experience.

Here is BA’s full rundown on their premium economy offer and The Telegraph’s Comparisons of Premium Economy Offers including British Airways Premium Economy Reviews

⇒ Prices and Deals on British Airways

British Airways World Traveller Plus Frequently Asked Questions

What class is world traveller plus on ba.

World traveller plus on British Airways is premium economy. This is a class between economy and business class.

Do you get lounge access with British Airways World Traveller Plus?

No, you do not get lounge access with a British Airways World Traveller Plus ticket.

Does World Traveller Plus on British Airways get priority boarding?

Yes, World Traveller Plus travelers on British Airways get priority boarding and check-in.

Does World Traveller Plus on British Airways get to use the fast track queue for security?

No, World Traveller Plus customers on British Airways do not get to use the fast track queue for security.

How wide are the World Traveller Plus British Airways seats?

The seats in British Airways World Traveller Plus generally have a 38 inch pitch and are 18.5 inches wide. The seats are 1 inch wider than economy and the pitch is 7 inches greater than economy.

Booking Flights:

I use Skyscanner for all my flights – from economy through to business – click here to Check out SkyScanner 

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The hotel is located on a quiet street but is a great location.

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The Hoxton hotel is in the heart of East London in Shoreditch and is a perfect base for exploration. The rooms aren’t huge but the location makes up for it – as does the great value for London with rooms starting at £99 a night.

Who Paid for What in this British Airways World Traveller Plus Post

I covered the cost of my flights on British Airways Premium Economy. This post on British Airways world traveller plus contains affiliate links. That means if you click on them and end up making a purchase on that website I will receive a small commission. I wanted to make sure you were aware of this.

READ NEXT: American Airlines PREMIUM ECONOMY REVIEW

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Amanda O’Brien is the creator and editor of The Boutique Adventurer. She has visited 80 countries and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers as well as the IFTWTA. She is passionate about wine had has just completed Level 3 of the WSET. Born in Australia, she lives in London.

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Journeying John

Sunday 5th of March 2023

Glad your food was ok and an upgrade but I have to reportthe reverse, bith in and oit of India, there was no choice and what was actually served was worse than mkat carriers economy meals. As for BA's IT systems and contempt for customers who habe paid for a service they don't recieve. Your experience is far from unique and I wonder if you would ever have got any form of compensation had you not had the ankle injury. BA or the UK brand of IAG are #BestAvoided today.

Amanda OBrien

Wednesday 15th of March 2023

I doubt it on the compensation front John! Luckily BA seems to be getting better but I am still nervous about being kicked off flights when I am travelling solo

Jean-Pierre

Tuesday 21st of February 2023

Interesting you had problems with entering your passport information when checking-in. This has happened twice to me using the BA website. The two occasions have been years apart so BA have not fixed their website.

I eventually found a telephone number to call for website support and after about 40 minutes the agent was able to get my passport info to take. It was very frustrating, especially after paying for the upgrade to World Traveler Plus, the taking more money part of their website works very well.

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Simple Flying

British airways' world traveller plus premium economy cabin: everything you need to know.

A look at the UK flag carrier's premium economy offering.

Today we will look at British Airways World Traveller Plus premium economy and see what it offers and if it is worth the extra money. While the concept of a premium economy cabin may sound relatively new, the idea of providing a nicer economy cabin has been around for just over 30 years. Taiwanese carrier EVA Air introduced premium economy seating on its Boeing 747-400s. Instead of calling it premium economy EVA Air called it "Evergreen Class."

EVA Air's upgraded economy seating did not go unnoticed by other airlines and was soon copied by the United Kingdom-based airline Virgin Atlantic in 1992. British Airways did not want to be outdone by a rival and created its premium economy product shortly afterward.

Premium economy allows you a free second suitcase

Before we talk more about British Airways World Traveller Plus premium economy, it's worth pointing out that "economy" is the key word here. While you may have a slightly bigger, more comfortable, reclining seat and extra legroom, it is in no way comparable to flying business class.

There are, however, advantages to flying premium economy over regular economy. The first is being able to check in a second suitcase for free. British Airways would charge extra for a second bag, which, in some cases, may result in the same total price as what it would cost you to book premium economy.

A friend recently flew on TAP Portugal from Miami to Lisbon and needed to bring two suitcases. When he saw what the Portuguese carrier wanted for the second piece of luggage, it was a no-brainer upgrading to premium economy as it was nearly the same price.

Wider seats and more legroom

British Airways premium economy passengers also get priority boarding which means you are in tier three, with first and business class passengers boarding first. British Airways' World Traveller Plus cabin is between business and economy classes and configured in a 2+4+2 layout.

It offers 18.5-inch seats with an 8% recline, which is great for sleeping but not so good if the person in front of you wants to recline fully, as it intrudes on your personal space. Each seat has individual charging points, and legroom is a generous 38 inches with a footrest. Each seat has a 10.6-inch inflight entertainment screen allowing you to watch hundreds of the latest movies and TV shows.

Want answers to more key questions in aviation? Check out the rest of our guides here !

WiFi is available on British Airways flights, but sadly even though you are flying in World Traveller Plus, you still have to pay for it. World Traveller Plus passengers also get noise-canceling headphones and an amenity kit. Unfortunately, the World Traveller Plus cabin has no restrooms, so you share the toilets with economy passengers.

Food and drinks

World Traveller Plus passengers are offered a welcome aboard drink: water, orange juice, or sparkling wine. Meals vary depending on the time of the day. If you are flying from New York to London, for example, flights are generally in the evening so you arrive in the UK early in the morning.

After taking off, the cabin crew comes round with the drink trolley, and then a little while later, the meal service begins. If you expect to get the kind of food served in business class, you will be disappointed as it is only marginally better than what is provided in economy. Later in the flight, before landing, a second meal service is given, which is more like a snack than a meal.

British Airways

Travel classes

Choose your perfect way to fly. Our cabins cater to everyone so you can expect the same great, and uniquely British, experience whether you’re flying First or economy.

Discover great value fares and family-friendly service. Fly to the UK and Europe in Euro Traveller or go long-haul in our World Traveller cabin.

Premium economy

Fly premium economy with World Traveller Plus and treat yourself to a wider seat, longer legroom and priority boarding - all in a separate cabin with an extra checked bag.

Work or relax in style with lounge access, dedicated check-in and fully flat beds on long-haul. Fly short-haul with Club Europe or to the rest of the world with Club World. Our new Club Suite is also available on selected flights.

Indulge in the most exceptional comforts from luxurious fine dining to your own private suite. With access to our elegant departure lounges and exclusive service as standard, First truly is the finest way to fly.

Travelling on partner airlines

If your flight number begins with anything other than ‘BA’ (e.g. AA123456X), you’re flying with one of our partners.

To learn about travel classes on our partner airlines, please use the links below:

American Airlines

Japan airlines, qatar airways, china southern airlines.

Review of British Airways Premium Economy

British Airways was one of the first airlines to introduce a Premium Economy cabin on its long-haul aircraft - branded as World Traveller Plus . As such, many of its cabins are showing their age, but still serve their purpose well by offering extra space, better meals and more personalised service. The airline is retrofitting these cabins and upgrading the hard product, but this will take time, so in the interim be prepared for a mix of old and new.

The United Kingdom’s largest airline takes pride in offering reliable and friendly service while carrying the British flag to far corners of the globe.

British Airways is a founding member of the oneworld alliance, which means fliers can earn and redeem Avios points on its many partners. Conversely, members of other alliance member airlines can earn and redeem their miles with British Airways.

Airport experience

All British Airways flights pass through London with primary hubs at London Heathrow and London Gatwick airports (and a smaller operation at London City). London airports are known for stringent and sometimes overzealous security procedures, which can be frustrating for passengers adding extra time to the journey. Unfriendly airport security agents are enough to convince some travellers to fly another airline when booking international travel.

World Traveller Plus passengers can access individual check-in desks and a greater baggage allowance – two bags for the hold plus a cabin bag and laptop bag onboard. They do not enjoy lounge access once airside, though. Still, top oneworld elite status cardholders can use the lounges on eligible international itineraries no matter what cabin they are flying. These lounges include open bars offering cocktails, soft drinks, wine, and beer, service desks for assistance with tickets, a wide selection of magazines and newspapers, workstations with computers and free Wi-Fi, and buffets with warm and cold food selections.

Priority boarding is part of the Premium Economy experience.

Cabin & Seat

British Airways fly a combination of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, with World Traveller Plus available on each long-haul aircraft. The Airbus A380 World Traveller Plus cabin is found on the Upper Deck behind the Club World cabin in a 2-4-2 configuration over nine rows, while the Airbus A350 has seven rows in a 2-4-2 configuration. The Boeing 777 fleet varies between three and six rows in a 2-4-2 design, while the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft differs between four and six rows and is always in a 2-3-2 configuration.

Even the original iteration of the Premium Economy seat has plenty of space. It varies depending on the plane, but expect a wider seat – typically 18.5 inches (47 centimetres), more leg room with a pitch of 38 inches (97 centimetres), including a foot and leg rest, lumbar support, a recline of around 8 inches (20 centimetres), a small side table and headrest with adjustable wings for better resting positions. Unfortunately, many seats have equipment for the entertainment system that impedes your legroom, which makes it challenging to store carry-on bags or wiggle your feet around during the flight.

World Traveller Plus occupies a more intimate cabin of no more than nine rows with a dedicated lavatory and curtains separating it from economy and Business Class. There are middle seats, which are worth avoiding unless travelling with a companion.

Bulkhead rows prevent someone from reclining their seat into your space, but it does mean that carry-on luggage must be stowed overhead for takeoff and landing. These seats also have television monitors that fold out from the armrest, and they cannot be used on the ground or during takeoff and landing for safety reasons. Four bassinet points are available on the front cabin bulkhead, with another two at the rear of the Airbus A380s.

Not all tickets are eligible for advance seat selection, although those purchasing flexible fares and travellers with oneworld alliance elite status can choose a seat for free in advance. Others must wait until check-in to assign a seat.

Waiting at each seat on boarding is a thick pillow and wrapped blanket, and power and USB  and power outlets are available for each passenger. 

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes images, videos, and seat maps for most airlines and aircraft Search results also include details such as seat pitch, width and recline. This way, you can see the seat and cabin configuration of the flight in which you are interested before making your choice .

British Airways offers a lovely inflight service on fine china and metal cutlery. World Traveller Plus passengers are served some of the same entrees as those seated in Business Class, representing a significant upgrade from economy meal service.

Delivered on a single tray with real drink glasses (instead of plastic), most flights have two meals, including a hot meal after takeoff.

They include a salad and appetiser plus warm bread. Two main course dishes are protein or vegetarian, and the plated dessert offers a sweet finish. Flight attendants can provide snacks and drinks between meals, and passengers can visit a snacking station for self-service.

Before landing, a second meal is served depending on the time of day, which can consist of a hot or cold dish based on the length of the flight.

More than a dozen special meals are available for Premium Economy passengers, including Halal, Kosher and vegetarian options.

After takeoff, flight attendants offer glasses of sparkling wine before rolling out the beverage carts with a variety of complimentary drinks including beer, wine (two white and two red options) and cocktails. Coffee from London’s Union Coffee and an array of Twinings teas round off the menu.

Before the main meal, an aperitif service comes with mixed nuts and a choice of beverage.

Flight attendants are friendly, but have a lot of passengers to serve compared to Business Class. Expect the typical British-reserved service delivery you might find in a hotel or restaurant in the United Kingdom. Many passengers find that the crew adapts to the conversation and informality level of each person throughout the flight. Show them that you like to chat, and they will chat. Show British formality, and they will return the respect.

On flights where a foreign language is spoken at the destination, expect that someone on the crew will be ready to converse in that native tongue. British Airways also has overseas-based cabin crew on many flights; Indian flights, for example, often have crew based in India, which helps with cultural service details.

Entertainment

The seatback screen is adjustable so that if the person in front of you reclines, you can tilt it for better viewing. Noise-reducing headsets complement the solid selection of  entertainment programming , including the latest Hollywood movies, television programs, box sets, a global music collection, audiobooks and games. Screens respond to the touch but can also be adjusted via remote control.

Wi-Fi is available on most of British Airways' long-haul fleet, with  prices available  for hourly service or sometimes for a package to cover the flight. A cheaper offering that covers messaging or texting is also an excellent option for staying connected with loved ones.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes information on Wi-Fi and inflight entertainment .

Amenities & Facilities

Small amenity kits feature essential products – eye mask, ear plugs, toothpaste and toothbrush, lip balm, flight socks and pen, and a wrapped blanket and pillow are a fluffier upgrade to what is available in the economy cabin. Credit to the airline for making the small stylish amenities bag from recycled plastic.

On long-haul flights, families with infants can pre-reserve a bassinet to use. Children can also enjoy everything from cartoon and youth-themed shows to special toys and gifts to keep them busy.

Short & Medium Haul

British Airways’ short and medium-haul flights do not sell Premium Economy seating, but if the aircraft is flying a shorter route, these are excellent seats worth paying extra to enjoy the extra space that they afford. Most of the long-haul amenities (like hot meals, free drinks and noise-reducing headphones) are not available though. Buy-on-board service in economy class is standard on shorter European flights, which means the only benefit of paying for this seat on those flights is the extra space.

Sustainability

The airline is investing in the most fuel-efficient planes and focuses on reducing emissions both inflight and on the ground. Recycling programs in its lounges and inflight are another eco-friendly measure.

British Airways aims for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and the carrier invests in  carbon-neutral projects  in many of the destinations it serves. On its flights, it has switched to bamboo alternatives instead of plastic stirrers, reduced plastic use for amenity kits and headsets, and serves water bottles made from recycled materials. The airline sends less than one per cent of non-catering waste to landfills. BA's new uniforms are made from more than 90 per cent sustainable fabrics from recycled polyester and only use manufacturers of the 'Better Cotton' initiative. The old uniforms will be donated to charities, recycled into children's toys or contributed to the airline's museum.

The airline also collects loose change from passengers on its long-haul flights to support the non-profit organisation Flying Start. It supports less-fortunate children around the world. British Airways is also the first airline to build a waste-to-fuel plant converting everyday consumer waste to sustainable fuel.

A partnership with the Born Free Foundation has the airline advocating against the captivity of wild animals. British Airways Holidays helps to create a safe sanctuary space for rescued wild animals.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes information on CO2 emissions for each flight. Our quality algorithms also give a higher score to flights operated by the most modern and environmentally friendly aircraft.

What We Love

• Footrests and adjustable headrests to make it easier to sleep
• Business class-quality meals serving British products
• A nice selection of mid-flight snacks as well as an open bar throughout the flight

Read the BusinessClass.com review of British Airways Club World Read the BusinessClass.com review of British Airways First Class

BusinessClass.com searches hundreds of travel sites at once to help you find the best premium travel offers for both flights and the finest hotels.

Is Premium Economy British Airways worth it?

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British Airways World Traveller Plus Review [2023]

After a rocky flight across the pond, I decided to do a British Airways World Traveller Plus Review. Is it worth the cost? Read on.

There are few things that make me happier while travelling than getting an upgrade on a long flight. That is what happened in this British Airways World Traveller Plus review…and I’m not sure why. I have theories and will share them in a post soon, but for now, know that this British Airways World Traveller Plus review is by no means sponsored but did make this guy one happy flier.

That said, let’s find out if Is BA World Traveller Plus worth it.

Table of Contents

BA World Traveller Plus Review Summary

British Airways World Traveller Plus is a premium economy class that offers extra legroom, a wider seat, and other amenities. The cabin features a 2-3-2 seating configuration, personal in-flight entertainment screens, and a complimentary amenity kit.

The food and service are generally regarded as good, and passengers can also enjoy priority boarding and additional baggage allowance. However, the seats may not recline as much as some passengers would like, and the cost may be relatively high compared to other premium economy offerings.

Overall, British Airways World Traveller Plus is a solid option for those looking for a more comfortable travel experience without breaking the bank.

What Is The Difference Between British Airways Premium Economy & Business Class?

Economy Plus should really be thought of as “Business Class M inus .” For the most part, the service is the same minus the lay flatbeds. From what I saw while boarding and exiting the British Airways 747-400 on a recent trip to Europe, the Business Class seats are not that spread out and looked crowded…at least more so than flying Swiss Air or EgyptAir . Curious, and as I always do, on my return trip I spoke with the agent at the customer service desk. “How much for an upgrade to Business Class?” I said with a smile. To my horror, the agent said it would be over $7,000!

Paying an additional $7,000 at check-in seems incredibly dumb. An extra $390 for premium economy on a 9 1/2 hour flight, not so much. Thankfully, I didn’t have to do either and got an upgrade for free.

With that in mind, here is my British Airways World Traveller Plus review and why I think it offers some serious value.

Route: London to Vancouver Aircraft: 747-400 Seat: 35B Highlights : Entertainment and High Tea Low lights:  Meals

How to Upgrade to BA World Traveller Plus

To upgrade to BA World Traveller Plus, you can do so in a few ways:

• During booking: When booking your flight, you can choose to upgrade to World Traveller Plus during the booking process. You will see the option to upgrade if it is available for your flight.
• Online: If you have already booked your flight, you can check to see if an upgrade is available through the Manage My Booking section of the British Airways website.
• At the airport: You may also be able to upgrade to World Traveller Plus at the airport on the day of your flight, subject to availability.

Keep in mind that upgrading typically comes at an additional cost, so you should weigh the benefits against the extra expense to determine if BA World Traveller Plus is worth it for you.

British Airways World Traveller Plus Review – Seats

British Airways website boasts wider seats and more legroom in Premium Economy which, although true, is by no means spacious. There is ample legroom, decent recline, and a footrest for stretching out. 

Note: seats are  2×4×2 on the BA 747–400 so ensure to book seats A/B or H/J for maximum comfort!

British Airways World Traveller Plus Review – Service

Essentially, the meal service, amenities, and entertainment system are the same as Business Class. Seats include USB power and standard outlets (Europe and UK style). Where British Airways Economy Plus really differs from Economy Class is the seats and entertainment system.

  READ MORE:     Turkish Air Business Class Review

The amenities bag on this World Traveller Plus review was standard but lacking compared to those I found on Swissair , EgyptAir , and  Turkish Airlines.  Inside you will find earplugs, socks, a toothbrush and paste, a pen, and an eye mask.

Also inside you will find premium headphones, a nice touch, however, I prefer to stick to my favourite travel companion – the Bose-QuietComfort-25.

One negative on this World Traveller Plus review was the dinner tray. Mine sagged heavily in the middle which made eating and writing a bit awkward. A minor annoyance in the end but an annoyance nonetheless.

BA World Traveller Plus Review –  Food & Drink

Meals in Premium Economy are similar to what is served in Business Class except that they are not presented as nicely…or so I hope. Beyond the sloppy presentation, the food was just OK. I had an overcooked piece of beef with salty gravy and a neon salad.

The highlight of the meal service aboard this British Airways flight was the highest High Tea I have ever had. Well played BA.

World Traveller Plus Review –  Entertainment

The entertainment system is a huge upgrade over those found in Economy. The screen is much larger, brighter, and more responsive than those found in coach. My screen on the flight to Europe in Economy was so bad I could not get through a single movie. No worries, I made up for it in World Traveller Plus.

   READ MORE:  Norwegian Airlines Premium Economy Review

So, is British Airways World Traveller Plus Worth it?

Given my experience in Economy ( and recent reports of bedbugs! ), I believe an upgrade to British Airways World Traveller Plus is worth it for the extra pounds, especially if you are flying long distances. If you are looking to just sleep and can do so in cramped spaces then there’s not much for you in an upgrade.

As mentioned, I was upgraded but feel that BA World Traveller Plus is worth it for the extra comfort, meals, and space.

If you want to enjoy business-class services and amenities at a fraction of the cost (minus the lay flatbed) then the upgrade to British Airways World Travel Plus is highly recommended.

   READ MORE:  WestJet Premium Economy Review

What say you? Thoughts on this  British Airways W orld Traveller Plus Review ? Let’s hear it!

For more luxury travel reviews from business class and beyond see HERE .

So how does British Airways World Traveller Plus rank?

Should I Cancel My Flight or 2020 Travel Plans? Here’s My Take.

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Review: British Airways 747-400 World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy)

I have to admit, i really enjoyed world traveller plus (premium economy) on british airways. on a daytime flight, it is a nice hybrid between economy and business class..

My day began in Istanbul with a business class flight to London. After a six hour layover, I was anxious to board my nonstop flight home to Los Angeles. I booked using Avios, at a cost of 49,500 Avios and $269.61 for both segments. The LHR-LAX segment was 32,500 Avios alone, though I had taken advantage of a 40% transfer bonus from American Express Membership Rewards, effectively brining the price to about 23,000 AMEX points.

My flight departed from Heathrow Terminal 5 and I was elated to find that my aircraft featured the classic BOAC livery. Boarding began late, but I finagled my way toward the front of the boarding queue so I could have a few moments to take pictures onboard before the cabin filled up.

British Airways 269 London (LHR) – Los Angeles (LAX) Tuesday, October 01 Depart: 04:15 PM Arrive: 07:20 PM Duration: 11hr, 05min Aircraft: Boeing 747-400 Seat: 36G (“World Traveller Plus” Premium Economy Class)

Onboard, I was warmly welcomed by the purser and directed to my seat. Two flight attendants waiting in the cabin also greeted me. The crew turned out to be remarkable on this flight.

British Airways World Traveller Plus Seating

The premium economy cabin featured three rows of eights seats across in a 2-4-2 configuration. Legroom is 38 inches and seat width is 18.5 inches, 1.5 inches more than economy and 1.5 inches less than “Club World” business class. The seats have footrests. In the first row (34) they extend form the seat itself. In rows 35-36, they fold down from the seat in front. I don’t care for these type of footrests and did not use mine.

Seat recline was adjustable via manual buttons below the armrest. An IFE remote control was also present there. Power ports were located in-between seats. Even in row 36 the seats fully recline.

BA’s 747s feature the older World Traveller Plus seats, cloth-covered and a bit better padded than the new(er) seats found on the 787 and A350. I found the seat well-padded and frankly very comfortable for the journey. I ended up snoozing for several hours and while it simply cannot compare to a lie-flat, I found it immensely better than economy class, which I’ve also reviewed here .

British Airways recently updated its soft product in World Traveller Plus. One of the upgrades was better bedding and pillows. Indeed, the blanket was better than what some airlines offer in business class and the pillow was plush and nicely sized.

Being an older 747, overhead bin space is limited, as the compartments are not meant for larger rollerboard bags.

British Airways World Traveller Plus IFE + Wi-Fi

Last time I flew the BA 747 was in first class and the IFE was woefully outdated. Since then, BA has updated its IFE to a new system with a higher resolution and instant response via touchscreen. A modern IFE system makes the flight so much more enjoyable and I enjoyed a couple movies including Anna and 100 Dinge (things), a thought-provoking German movie about consumption. Games, audio, and TV programming was also available as well as a moving flight map.

I was not expecting wi-fi, but it was also available and worked well. Pricing was not exactly cheap, but the signal was strong enough for me to have (discreet) phone calls over FaceTime audio and stay on top of email.

Noise-cancelling headphones were acceptable, though not excellent. They appear to be the same ones that BA uses in business class and are a big upgrade over the disposable ones in economy class.

British Airways World Traveller Plus Dining

Sparkling wine (a £ 6.00 bottle of  Prospero Brut  available at Tesco )  was offered prior to takeoff in glasses.

Shortly after takeoff, menus were distributed. Today’s selection included three choices:

• Braised British beef
• Prawn Thai green curry
• Autumn pumpkin and parsnip hotpot

Meal service began with drinks, a bag of pretzels, and a hot towel. One of the flight attendants recommended I try the red wine, remarking that it was “actually very good”. Since I planned to order the beef option, I took him up on his offer. The Vina Albali Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 sells for about £4 .00/bottle, but I found it to be perfectly acceptable.

Meals are now served on porcelain, though arrived wrapped in foil.

The plate contained a beet salad, crackers and cheese, cake, and a warm bread roll.

As always seems to be the case on British Airways, the main course looked like a cafeteria-style dish, but tasted good. The beef was tender and the vegetables flavored nicely by the chasseur sauce.

I awoke from my nap just in time for ice cream service, served about halfway through the flight. The Magnum ice cream bar may not have been healthy, but it hit the spot.

About an hour later, a snackbox was served. It included a potato chips, popcorn, and a Twix chocolate bar.

Finally, about 90 minutes before landing a pre-arrival dinner was offered. The choices were chicken tikka masala or conchiglie pasta with mushrooms and sweet red peppers. I opted for the pasta and found it even tastier than teh first meal. It was served with bread and a packaged banana loaf.

I was (pleasantly) surprised by the amount of food offered onboard British Airways in World Traveller Plus. You won’t go hungry in this cabin.

British Airways Premium Economy Amenity Kit

A stylish amenity kit was distributed before takeoff which included:

• Toothbrush + toothpaste

British Airways Premium Economy Lavatory

The lavatory was a bit grimy and certainly showing its age, but stayed clean for the duration of the flight. No extra amenities were offered.

British Airways World Traveller Plus Service

Lastly, a warm shoutout to the crew onboard. The crew was lovely; very professional and yet very friendly. They were attentive too, with frequent checks on the cabin and proactive offers for beverage refills. This was not a “mixed fleet” crew as most had more than 15-20 years of experience as a BA flight attendant.

A particular shoutout to Gail, who worked my side of the aisle and could not have been friendlier. I appreciate that this crew took time to engage with the guests onboard: it was clear they were not just going through the motions. A good-natured crew makes any flight a better flight.

When I boarded, I found my tray table was broken. Gail took it very seriously and immediately found a maintenance worker who was fixing a seat cushion in economy class. It took just a few moments for him to tighten up the screws and solve the issue.

We landed at LAX ahead of schedule and I was soon in my car heading home. I’ve now flown British Airways in all four cabins (first, business, premium economy, and economy) and quite honestly have had pleasant experiences across the board. I will not hesitate to fly British Airways again or recommend it to others. The high award fees in premium cabins are a huge disincentive to fly on BA when redeeming miles, but expect a good flight if you do end up on BA.

> Read More: Lufthansa Premium Economy Review > Read More: United Premium Economy Review

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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13 comments.

“the signal was strong enough for me to have (discreet) phone calls over FaceTime audio”

I can promise you, that unless the cabin was empty, they were not discreet and probably annoyed at least someone.

I just don’t understand the need.

Completely agree. They also usually say that voice calls are prohibited. It’s a shame to hear the flight attendants aren’t enforcing this.

The decay of social etiquette continues.

Matthew, I am waiting for you to do a one month challenge in eating only the more exotic dishes served on planes. You are funny with your predictable ordering of meat or pasta. Next time go Chicken Tikka Masala!

Especially after encouraging airlines to add more Indian dishes!

Sorry, but my journey from Denver to London in a 23 year old 747 was an utter nightmare! Grubby, shoddy and poorly delivered premium service. I wish I’d flown in economy and not been robbed and insulted by the worst flight in my life.

Voice calls are not permitted on board. Frankly this is disappointing coming from someone who has posted before about passenger shaming.

That only works if someone else is supposed to be shamed lol

It would be interesting to have you fly more premium economy and/or at least rank the ones you have flown so far.

Wow! After several years of headline making horror stories (for example, inedible meals, cuts to meal service, urine soaked seat cushions & multiple incidents of passengers arriving at their destination bitten by bedbugs) and many bloggers bemoaning BA’s slide towards another era where “BA” was short for “Bloody Awful” (as it was back in the day before Lord King & Sir Colin Marshall reshaped into the self-proclaimed, but well deserved slogan, as the “World’s Favourite Airline” in the late 1980s & into the ‘90s), it’s nice to see BA once again offering a quality product that’s more like its award winning era as the “World’s Favourite Airline” than when its service was so awful most derisively referred to it as “Bloody Awful”!

Here’s hoping this “upgraded & improved” version of BA is with us for the long-haul! 🙂

The older Premium Economy seats on BA were wider, and there were individual reading lights, which I loved. I’ve been fly6this class for about 10-12 years, and I have found that the seats are getting smaller and closer. It’s not nearly as good of a deal as it used to be.

Great review!

Two “addendums” (if you will):

1.) Assuming you were aboard BA’s “Super High ‘J’” 747-400 (based on the photos seen in your post above), I’m pretty sure the configuration for WTP cabin varies slightly from the “three rows of eight seats across in a 2-4-2 configuration” (for a total of 24 seats in WTP/PE class) as follows:

a.) four rows for the “A/B” left side window/aisle pair and the center four “D/E/F/G” grouped seats

– and –

b.) three rows of seats for “J/K” right side window/aisle pair

– For a total of 30 seat in WTP/PE;

2.) With your seat, 36G, adjacent/across the aisle from a lavatory, and directly in front of a galley separating WTP from the Main Cabin, were there any negatives being in close proximity to either the loo or the galley?

Just wondering?

Personally, I can’t see the appeal of 2-4-2 seating in Club World over 3-4-3 in regular economy class. There’s no way I’d be forking out extra cash and risk running being sested in the two middle seats at the centre of the Club World cabin. It would feel just like World Traveller, regardless of the “enhanced” soft product…

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BA Business Class Review – New 777 Suite – Full Photos

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So, what is British Airways Club World (Business Class) REALLY Like? Is it worth the price, are the benefits as good as they sound, and do the photos on the British Airways do the club world experience justice, or is it just a let-down? I recently took the new Business Class seat on the Boeing 777 aircraft for a spin and tried and tested EVERYTHING important to most travelers, so I could write this full BA Business Class review and tell you whether it really is as good as the hype – and took many (many) photos for you as evidence.

The new British Airways Club World (Business Class) service is worth the price for service, attention, and most importantly space. The busy business Club World lounge frustration is offset with the new business class suite onboard, with a closing door, welcome glass of champagne, and private space.

On board, I tried out the Club World lounge at Heathrow terminal 5, as well as tested out the new suite, food options, amenities, comfort for the duration of the flight, and attentiveness of the crew. I’m sure you’ll find the results of interest!

Sidenote : For comparison, I tried and tested the new World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy) with a whole different and surprising experience, find out why here!

Business Class Check-In , Bag Drop, and Fast Track Security

With any Business Class experience, you should find a fast check-in, bag drop, and fast-track security option a breeze.

Was it really like this though? At the time of writing, Covid still requires additional checks at the airport and face masks throughout the journey. This means completing all the pre-required checks, Covid vaccination statuses, and pre-flight test certificates in advance for a smooth check-in experience.

With British Airways this can be done through the VeriFly app. It’s relatively pain-free and saves time – well it will save time for you but unfortunately, many passengers will not be as prepared as you. Although I was in the Club World check-in queue it moved slowly, until some very smart BA employee made arrangements for those queuing in the Club World queue (with only 3 members of staff serving) to go forward into the exclusive First Class check-in area for check-in.

This thought was after a 45min wait, whilst check-in staff frantically made phone calls to see whether passengers without the correct documentation could board. Considering the very small number of First Class passengers, there were approx.. 10 members of staff checking First Class customers in here, hence no queue! Why there was 3 staff checking in a large queue of Club World passengers, and 10 staff checking in very few First passengers seems a puzzle no one was interested in at the airport in solving.

Fortunately, being prepared with the VeriFly app helped, and I was checked in within a couple of minutes. Fast track security was empty, and I was through within a minute or two. My suggestion is to arrive at the airport in plenty of time, especially if Covid restrictions and certificates are required to fly. This way you will not feel panic as person after person in front of you in the queue spends around 5mins per person to check in, and you will also have time to enjoy the lounge.

My other suggestion is to use the VerfiFly app to upload all requirements in advance. It will save so much time for you, and all those queuing behind you!

My Club World Lounge Experience – Heathrow Terminal 5

As often is the case in the BA Club World lounge – it was busy! The BA Club World lounge itself is quite a sizeable area in Heathrow Terminal 5 and has a large number of seats, but it can be really busy. Private toilet facilities, as well as free and unlimited food and drink, await you. Although there was no champagne in the Club World lounge (as I overheard a few other passengers mutter and complain to themselves) there was a range of Proseccos, wine, beers, spirits, and soft drinks.

You can help yourself to the free snacks – including mince pies which were a nice seasonal touch – at the time you wish throughout your stay at the lounge. After finding a seat you can order food through the BA website shown on the table you are sitting at or access it through the handy QR code. A small choice of both meat and vegetarian options was available – as well as afternoon tea, which consisted of three sandwiches and a wedge of cake. Delicious.

Almost every seat had power options for last-minute charging of phones, laptops, and tablets. The Club World lounge was busy, and it didn’t necessarily feel as if you were escaping the hustle and bustle of the airport terminal, but the free food and drink in a comfy chair certainly didn’t degrade from the overall Business Class experience.

The New BA Business Class 777 Suite Full Review – Tried and Tested!

There has been a lot of excitement around the new BA Business Class (Club World) 777 Suite! What makes a business class seat into a business class suite – the answer is, a sliding door!

As you step onto the plane and are directed to your seat by the smiling cabin crew at the front door, you’ll notice you almost step into your suite, rather than sit down at your seat. A small but subtle difference. Before take-off, the suite door must remain open but is unlocked by the cabin crew after take-off.

First Impressions – Club World Seat

First impressions can be everything. The flight I took was a long 11-hour flight to Las Vegas, so I certainly had time to try and test everything around me. Climbing into the new BA Business Class Suite felt like climbing into the cockpit of a Ford Mondeo. All the necessities and amenities around you, are elegantly done, but a tiny bit cramped. I am 6ft tall and of average build, and the reality is I never felt truly cramped, although the footwell could have been slightly taller – but was used to house the electricity and wiring of the large HD 18-inch TV directly facing you.

The sleek and elegant panel finish resembled the sweeping stream of the BA logo. Whether intentional or not within the design it looked and felt premium.

As well as a remote control for the touchscreen TV, there was an additional touchscreen panel to control the versatile seat. The footrest could be moved up and down, as well as the recline, by the panel. It also had two further options to convert to a fully flat bed – or a handy button to take the seat into the take-off and landing positions when needed.

User friendly and has a nice design.

If there are two of you traveling, you may find it better to choose the middle two seats in a row of four. There is a sliding panel between the seats which can be opened to talk and still feel as if you are sitting next to someone – or if you are traveling on business and prefer some private space without the awkwardness of closing the middle sliding panel against a colleague, then choose one of the window seat suites!

There was an abundance of small cubby holes and compartments to put your stuff away from sight, just remember to check them all before you leave the plane as it would be easy to leave something behind!

So how comfortable are the new 777 BA Business Class Suites? The new 777 BA Business Class seats are very comfortable. The seat contours to almost any position, as well as a comfortable footrest and plenty of storage space. There is also an armrest that lifts up and down from the seat, creating an armchair-type feel. After a long 11-hour flight I felt I could have flown for another 11 hours without a problem.

The comfort of the Club World suite is a huge step up from the comfort of Premium Economy, and a milestone step up from standard Economy.

Lay Flat Bed

The Business Class seat converts into a full lay flat 6-foot bed. This is perfect if you need some sleep in between business meetings, or even if you’re traveling to or from a holiday destination overnight. As you entire your suite you’ll notice some welcome bedding.

It consists of a small pillow (about three-quarters the size of a standard pillow at home) as well as an under-sheet to lay on, and a thin duvet as a blanket. I usually find it a struggle to sleep in Economy or Premium Economy but had no issues sleeping for around 6 hours in Business Class. The amenities bag (that I will come on to shortly) included a sleeping eye mask and a pair of socks.

With the suite, door closed you really do feel as if you have your own personal space to relax and sleep.

Entertainment

The BA Business Class suite comes with a full HD screen (estimated 18 inches) with a range of movies and TV shows.

The HD screen is fully touch screen, and inside one of the compartments is a handy remote control. It is worth noting the entertainment viewed is the same regardless of whether you fly Economy, Premium Economy, or Business Class. Unfortunately, I personally found the movie choices and TV shows a little dull and limited. I am sure most people would find something to watch, and almost everyone in the Club World cabin looked to be watching TV, but despite flying around 22 hours return I didn’t really find anything to watch – so enjoyed some pre-downloaded TV shows on my phone instead.

On your seat, as you enter your suite, you’ll find an amenities bag waiting for you.

My amenities bag contained:

• Moisturizers and lotions
• Pen (handy for completing landing cards!)
• Toothbrush and toothpaste

I doubt many of us would opt to fly Business Class for the sake of a small amenities bag, so I think the photo and content list is enough detail here.

Food and Drink

You’ll be given a food and drinks menu shortly after taking your seat. I have tried to take some photos of the menu for you, although the cabin was quite dark at the time.

As well as a selection of meat and vegetarian dishes, you can pre-order food ranges before you fly through your booking on the BA website. The food is served on china plates with silver cutlery. I had the vegan cottage pie which was very nice, as well as a glass of wine and a couple of exclusive BA Brewdog beers for the flight. There are snacks available during the flight – I will come on to these next.

I found the food range and choices in Club World to be much better than those offered in Premium Economy (for comparison purposes).

Snacks on Board

Throughout the flight there are a selection of snacks (mainly biscuits) as well as water, wines, and fruit juices in the galley between the two Club World cabins.

You can help yourselves to these as much as you like throughout the flight, and everything here is free.

After the food in the BA Club World lounge, as well as a sumptuous meal and pudding, you may not feel like any more food – but who can resist a sneaky packet of biscuits on the way back from a bathroom break?

WiFi is onboard – but it is not free to even Business Class passengers! I really think BA is missing a trick here. The cost of full streaming WiFi access for the entire flight I took was £14.99, or it was just £4.99 for enough data to message people on the ground for the entire flight. This was cheaper than advertised on the BA website before I flew, so perhaps Perks such as these seem to be stripped back now from Business Class, which makes it a less attractive service against other business class offerings from competitors.

The messaging WiFi package was tried and tested. It was ok but struggled to get a service at times. WiFi is only free to First Class passengers.

After Landing Experience

Many airlines have been instructed by the airports not to let all passengers leave at once. So as the plane lands and taxis into place, the usual chaos of everyone at the same time scrabbling to their feet, forcing open the overhead locker and throwing down suitcases like it’s a competition to win a First class seat – people now need to remain in their seats and only collect belongings from their overhead lockers once their row is called.

First passengers will of course disembark first followed by Club World. Club World on the new 777 planes are in two sections, a front and back section. Passengers in the front section are the first to be served food and drink and the first to disembark the plane, before the second section and then World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy). If you pre-book your seats – which you can for free if you’re a Gold or Silver Tier member, or from 7 days before your flight if you’re a Bronze Tier member – you may want to choose the front cabin. Club World passengers’ baggage is also prioritized off the plane, so you should find your bags one of the first in baggage claim. Mine was.

How to fly in the BA Club World Suite for Free!

Avios is the best way to fly in the new BA Club World suite for free!

Depending on your destination (check out the Avios Air Fare Calculator here) you could fly in the BA Club World suite from 110,000 Avios.

This is based on a long-haul off-peak flight to New York.

Collecting this many Avios is doable, depending on your spending habits.

For example:

• 25,000 Avios – BA Amex Plus Card application (and spend £3,000 in first 3 months – although there is an annual £250 fee)
• 25,000 Avios – Open a Barclays Premium Account with BA add on
• 10,000 Avios – Insurance switches per year

These three items alone would earn you more than 50% of the Avios you need for the standard 110,000 Avios fares. During an Avios sale, this price could be even cheaper!

Add in Nectar point swaps to Avios for grocery and petrol spending, earnings for hotel and holiday spending, and shopping online through the BA Shopping Portal whenever you can, really can make those Avios grow quickly! If you did take out the BA Amex Plus Card and spent £10,000 on the card in a 12-month period, you will receive a companion flight voucher.

This voucher means two people could fly on the same flight for the one Avios flight price of 110,000 Avios! – using the New York example again. It is worth noting that only the flight seat price is free when using Avios, you will still need to pay the taxes and fees. On a Business Class flight this is on average 20-30% of the flight cost but considerably cheaper still than paying full fare!

Is BA Business Class Worth It?

Value for money is very relative, and usually ‘is BA Business Class worth it is the most commonly asked question. For me it is worth it for a long-haul flight of more than 7-8 hours, but only if you can get Club World for no more than 4x World Traveller (Economy) or 2x World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy). If the cost of Business Class is 8x-10x the cost of Economy then you are paying for a higher demand in the service, rather than really what the service is worth based on pitch size, fast tracking and free food and drink.

Upgrading a Premium Economy fare to Club World is the best way to stretch those Avios points across multiple flights, especially when the Business Class fare is considerably higher than Premium Economy. Now the point of The Points Insider (excuse the pun) is about collecting points not paying full cash fares.

This is why it is important to take advantage of Avio’s earning potential.

I used collected Avios points to upgrade to Club World and spent no more than I would have done day to day to get there.

A one-way upgrade from Premium Economy to Business Class can cost from just 20,000 Avios to New York. 20,000 can almost easily be collected in a year. I have shown some examples already, but another way is a one-year subscription to The Spectator magazine for £179. This will give you a reward of 12,500 Avios as a bonus. The remaining 7,500 Avios can be made with a few online purchases through the BA Shopping portal as well as Nectar transferred to Avios through shopping at Sainsbury’s and filling up your petrol tank at either Esso or Sainsbury’s petrol stations.

Is BA Business Class Much Better Than Premium Economy?

BA Business Class is considerably a better service and experience than BA Premium Economy. Unfortunately in my experience is that the BA Business Class is a good service in its category, but BA Premium Economy is poor in its category – which widens the difference between the offerings. Would I upgrade from economy to premium economy at double the price – probably not?

Would I upgrade from economy to business class at four times the price – probably yes.

Premium Economy in BA is just an extended Economy service rather than an enhanced one. There is a separate cabin, wider seat, and more legroom – but no dedicated check-in desks, no pre-departure drink, the same food choice as the economy, and a ridiculously large seat recline hampering any personal space you thought you gained – take away the premium nature of the service.

Question: Is BA Business Class the same as BA Club World?

Answer: Yes, it is exactly the same thing. BA Club World is the long haul offering to Business Class, whereas BA Club Europe is the short-haul offering to Business Class.

Question: Is BA Business Class back to normal?

Answer: It is getting there. Masks have to be worn at all places at the airport, including the Club Lounge – and throughout the duration of your flight unless you are eating or drinking. Check-in times are longer due to increased Covid checks.

Question: Can you choose a seat for free on BA Business Class at the time of booking?

Answer: No! – This I think is a very poor marketing decision. After sometimes spending thousands of pounds on a Business Class seat the majority of travelers will need to pay extra to sit together and by as much as £110 per seat each way! This means a couple will spend up to an additional £440 just to choose seats for a return journey! If you are a Gold or Silver Tier status member you can choose your seat for free at the time of booking, but this will usually be a small number of flyers. If you made it to Bronze Tier status you can choose a seat for free up to 7 days from the date of departure. For everyone else, you can either pay to choose your seat or take the gamble that seats together are available 24 hours before check-in opens, which can be done for free. Top Tip: Seats can be selected for free in all cabins exactly 24 hours from the check-in time. If you can be one of the first to check-in, you will have a greater seat choice selection.

Question: Do Business Class seats really lie flat?

Answer: Yes, they do! – Even for someone like me who is 6ft in height.

Question: Is there a dress code for BA Business Class?

Answer: Not really. You can wear casual clothes. No suits or fancy dresses are required.

Question: What is so special about BA Business Class?

Answer: In part, it’s the expense that adds exclusivity, that adds desire, but this can be said of all expensive commodities. The other part is that you remove all the frustrations of traveling like lengthy queues, crowded airport terminals, and cramped seats. With fast check-in, fast security clearance, a business class lounge for free food and drinks, and personal space onboard with no one sitting next to you, or reclining their seat in front of you, it is about traveling how everyone would like to travel.

BA Business Class Review – The Insiders Notes

The new BA Business Class Suite on their Boeing 777 planes is a worthy contender in the competitive Business Class space. The seats are comfortable, even if the feeling is a little cramped as so many mod cons as well as storage space are added into your area, but the space is put to good use.The lounges can be busy, but they serve a purpose. All in all the BA Club World (Business Class) Suites on the Boeing 777 are definitely recommended, and something you should start saving your Avios towards to enjoy the experience too!

About The Author

The Points Insider Team

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The 8 Best Business-Class Seats in the World—and How to Book Them With Points and Miles

By Ramsey Qubein and Eric Rosen

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Airlines are always updating their services, especially in the renewed competition to have the best business-class seats and amenities. While many airlines are cutting first class cabins in favor of business class, the good news is that fliers are seeing more premium perks than ever before. From  suite-style seats with closing doors and designer bedding, to menus created by celebrity chefs and chic amenity kits stuffed with beauty products, flying in business class is a delight.

Of course, all that luxury comes at a cost. Many international business-class tickets price upwards of $5,000 round-trip from the U.S., and top $10,000 in some cases. But if you have  airline miles , or credit card points that  transfer to frequent-flier programs , you can experience all this high-altitude extravagance without paying sky-high fares.

Here are eight of the best business-class seats currently available, and how you can use points and miles to fly them for (nearly) free. We picked these not only for the seating options and amenities, but also based on award availability and the number of routes on which they are in service.

1. Qatar Airways Qsuites

Since the introduction of its  much-lauded Qsuite , Qatar Airways has endeavored to put them on many of its long-haul routes, including flights from  Doha to the U.S., Europe, and Asia. As for the Qsuites themselves, each one has its own closing door for privacy in flight. Qatar Airways also designed certain center seats to be combinable into two- and four-person blocs (and double beds in some cases), so that families or colleagues traveling together can enjoy spaces for socializing and co-working.

Where to find it: Currently, you can find Qsuites aboard the airline’s  Airbus A350-1000s , and some of its Boeing 777-300ERs, 777-200LRs, and Airbus A350-900s. Its Airbus A380s and Boeing 787 planes do not have Qsuites, however. The good news is Qatar Airways is flying Qsuites from Doha to most U.S. destinations including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, New York (JFK), San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., among other cities. You’ll also find them on routes beyond the U.S. including Bangkok, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Frankfurt, London, and Paris, among others.

How to book it with points and miles: Because Qatar Airways is in the  Oneworld airline alliance , fliers can redeem American Airlines AAdvantage or Alaska Mileage Plan miles for award tickets. You can now search and book Qatar Airways awards directly on each airline’s website, which makes the process quick and simple. Just enter the city you're departing from, your destination, and your dates, and the search will bring up both economy and business-class award options. For example, using American miles for a one-way ticket will cost you 70,000 miles between Doha and the U.S., 42,500 miles between Doha and Europe, or 40,000 miles between Doha and Asia.

Qatar Airways has switched to the Avios program, which is also used by airlines like British Airways and Iberia. This means you can redeem Avios points to fly in Qatar’s Qsuites. Short on Avios points or don’t have an account at all? You can transfer American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Avios. Avios uses a distance-based award chart making it a good deal on shorter flights, but quite pricey on longer ones. A flight from Doha to the U.S. could cost as much as 103,000 points each way, but a flight between Doha and many cities in Europe would only cost 38,750 points each way.

2. Delta One Suites

Delta was actually the first U.S. airline to  unveil designs for an all-suites business-class cabin, and those suites are now flying on many routes. The most innovative feature of Delta One Suites is the closing doors. Although they just reach the top of the seat, the doors still provide a tangible sense of seclusion during the flight, shielding passengers from activity in the aisle. Like Delta’s older business-class seats, Delta One Suites are laid out in a staggered, front-facing 1–2–1 pattern so that every passenger has direct aisle access. The seats have memory-foam cushions for a comfortable ride, are 21 inches wide, and up to 81 inches long in lie-flat mode. They also feature fun touches like customizable lighting and Do Not Disturb indicators.

Where to find it: Delta is in the midst of a fleet renewal that will add Delta One Suites on more of its aircraft every month. You should find them aboard most of its Airbus A350s and A330-900neos. Planes with Delta One Suites are now flying from several of the airline’s hubs, including Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Seattle, to various gateways in Europe, Africa and Asia, including Amsterdam, Honolulu, Johannesburg, Paris, Seoul, Sydney, and Tokyo, among other destinations. Some of these routes are also flown by aircraft with older business-class seats, so be sure to double check your specific flight before booking.

How to book it with points and miles: Of course, you could use Delta SkyMiles to book award tickets on Delta flights (and the program is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards). However, the airline’s dynamic award pricing means that mileage requirements for expensive tickets have shot up astronomically—to over 500,000 miles one-way in some cases. Prepare to fork over a lot of miles for a Delta redemption.

Instead, consider using Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles. Don’t have those? Not to worry. The program is a transfer partner of AmEx Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Rewards. So if you have a  credit card that earns any of those types of points, you can transfer them to your Virgin Atlantic account. You can search for tickets by day, week, or five-week period directly on  Virgin’s site , which has access to award space on Delta and prices itineraries from the U.S. to Europe for as few as 47,500 miles each way. Other redemptions are based on distance, however, and can cost much more. For example, a flight from the U.S. to Johannesburg would cost 165,000 miles each way.

3. Singapore Airlines

Although Singapore Airlines’  first-class suites are the stuff of legend, the  experience in business class is nothing to turn your nose up at. Laid out in a 1–2–1 arrangement, Singapore’s business-class seats feel ultra-wide, at up to 30 inches across. They recline to lie-flat beds measuring 78 inches, which the  Balmain-clad flight attendants will make up for you with two pillows and a duvet. On the airline’s newer A380s, the center seats can even be turned into a double bed of sorts so you can cuddle with a travel companion. But if you’re traveling solo, don’t worry, there are privacy partitions. Don’t go to sleep too quickly, either, or you’ll miss out on meals created by the airline’s “International Culinary Panel” of chefs, including  kaiseki master Yoshihiro Murata and a new  partnership with Golden Door Spa for nutrition and wellness-focused menus.

Where to find it: While the actual seats themselves can vary by aircraft type, the latest versions can be found aboard the airline’s Airbus A350s and newer A380s. Older A380s and Boeing 777s have previous versions that are still very similar to the new seats in terms of space and size. That means your Singapore Airlines business-class experience should be fairly standard (and a high standard at that) no matter which long-haul route you fly.

Caitlin Morton

CNT Editors

Jessica Puckett

How to book it with points and miles: Singapore Airlines restricts the premium award space it makes available to partners, so you’ll probably need the airline’s own KrisFlyer miles to reserve your ticket. The good news is, KrisFlyer is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Rewards, so you have plenty of ways to top up your account if and when you find an award you want to book. You can book awards directly on  Singapore Airlines’ site by logging into your KrisFlyer account and searching your desired route and dates.

Flying from the West Coast of the U.S., including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle, will cost 128,500 miles each way. Want to take  the longest flight in the world from Newark to Singapore? That will cost you 143,500 miles in each direction.

4. American Airlines

All of American’s widebody jets feature seats in a popular reverse-herringbone 1-2-1 layout. Each seat is 26-27 inches wide with the armrest down, and reclines to form a flat bed that reaches between 78-79 inches.

Where to find it: Here’s where American Airlines really excels—you’ll find some version of its current reverse-herringbone seats on the vast majority of its  long-haul jets. The exceptions are some Boeing 777s and 787s that also have a variation where some rows face the rear, but the seat footprint is still comparable. In short, you’re going to have a similar experience pretty much no matter where you fly.

How to book it with points and miles: American’s own AAdvantage miles will typically be the best option for fliers. The airline charges based on the regions you’re traveling between and the type of award. Long-haul business-class awards start at 57,500 miles each way between the U.S. and Europe, 60,000-70,000 miles to Asia, and 30,000-57,500 miles to South America. You can also redeem Alaska Mileage Plan miles for American business-class flights now that Alaska has joined the Oneworld alliance.

United's Polaris product is one of the best business-class seats in the world.

5. United Polaris

Although United had been slow to roll out its hyped-up Polaris business-class concept since it was first revealed in June 2016, the airline is almost finished. Polaris seats are plotted out 1-2-1. Seats in the center section are alternately closer together or farther apart from one another, so pay attention to your placement if you have a preference there. Each Polaris seat is up to 23 inches wide and 78 inches long in bed mode, and features luxe amenities like fluffy Saks Fifth Avenue bedding and cooling gel pillows.

Where to find it: United has installed Polaris seats on all widebody aircraft with the exception of a handful of Boeing 767-300ERs and 767-400s. Its narrowbody Boeing 757-200s used on some flights to Europe will not get the new Polaris seats, however. Bottom line, triple check your aircraft type, but chances are your long-haul United flight on a widebody plane will have the new seats as the retrofits near completion.

How to book it with points and miles: If you have United miles, your easiest option will just be to hop on  United.com to book your awards directly. The cost will vary by destination and date. For some reference points, though, you will need around 70,000 miles each way from the U.S. to Europe, or 90,000 to Asia, depending on where you are flying. If you don’t have a stock of United MileagePlus miles, the program is a transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Since United is in the  Star Alliance , you could also use Air Canada Aeroplan miles, which uses a distance-based chart that sometimes offers better value. That program is a transfer partner of AmEx Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Capital One Rewards. Flights from the U.S. East Coast to Europe require around 70,000 miles each way, while many Asian routes will only require 75,000 miles.

6. Qantas Business Suite

Although they don’t have closing doors, Qantas’s seats do maintain a modicum of privacy thanks to a staggered 1–2–1 layout where seats are separated from one another and from the aisle by sizable screens. The  large footprint also helps—each seat is up to 24 inches wide and 80 inches long in bed mode with a 16-inch TV screen. Recent updates to Qantas aircraft are bringing its new business class to more planes, and on the Airbus A380, business-class passengers gain access to a shared lounge space to relax or work.

Where to find it: Qantas’s latest seats can be found on its Airbus A330s and its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, which are taking on more transpacific flights to the U.S. as well as the airline’s longest haul, the route from  Perth to London . Qantas is currently refitting its fleet of Airbus A380 double-deckers, which also fly to the U.S., with the new seats as well. On the Airbus A380, opt for a bulkhead seat (those in the first row of each cabin) as they benefit from a few extra inches of legroom.

How to book it with points and miles: Qantas is a Oneworld member, so you can use your American Airlines AAdvantage miles to book awards directly on AA.com. American is one of the few major U.S. carriers to still offer an award chart making it easier to know how many miles you need for a redemption. Before you get your hopes up, business-class award space is scarce, but if you do find a ticket, it will cost you 80,000 miles each way between the U.S. and Australia. Even more attractive, Oneworld partner Alaska Airlines, and its Mileage Plan program only charges 55,000 miles each way. You can search and book awards directly on  the Alaska site .

7. Japan Airlines Sky Suites

JAL currently operates flights from  Tokyo to 10 U.S. airports as well as Guam, not to mention dozens of other international destinations. It's also one of a handful of carriers that opted for a style of business-class seat dubbed the Apex Suite. Although they are configured in a 2–2–2 or 2–3–2 pattern, the seats still feel extremely private because they are staggered so that passengers are not sitting right next to one another. There are also thick personal dividers between seats. With those up, you might not even see your neighbor for the whole flight.

Where to find it: Although Japan Airlines does not have the most extensive route network, it does serve several major U.S. airports, including Boston Logan, Chicago O’Hare, Los Angeles International, New York JFK, San Francisco International, and Seattle-Tacoma International, among others. Most of the Boeing 777-300ERs and 787s it flies internationally have Apex Suites on board. However, some 777-200s and 787-9s have reverse-herringbone seats instead.

How to book it with points and miles: One of the best things about Japan Airlines is the amount of award space in premium cabins it releases to its partners, including American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. You can usually find a few dates each month with business-class seats available on the airline’s various routes to the U.S., and if you are flexible, you might find quite a lot of seats open up as the date of travel approaches. Between Japan and the U.S., American AAdvantage will charge you 60,000 miles each way, while Alaska will charge you points rates starting at 50,000.

Cathay Pacific business class on its A350 plane.

8. Cathay Pacific

While not the most exotic of business-class products, Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific offers one of the most dependable options. It is laid out in a 1-2-1 configuration offering privacy as well as the traditional amenities of a toiletry-stocked amenity kit, large swiveling entertainment screen, and multi-course dining. The fully flat beds are a favorite of frequent fliers. 

Where to find it: All Cathay Pacific long-haul flights offer this flat-bed business-class product. You’ll find Cathay Pacific aircraft in busy airports like Chicago O’Hare, Los Angeles, New York JFK, and San Francisco. 

How to book it with points and miles: Since Cathay Pacific is part of the Oneworld alliance, travelers can use their miles much like they would with Japan Airlines. This means using American miles on flights between Hong Kong and the U.S. would cost at least 60,000 miles each way using American miles, while Alaska will charge you mileage rates starting at 50,000 miles.

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The best seats on a British Airways Airbus A380

We continue our series looking at British Airways ' aircraft to help you pick the best seats and have the most comfortable flights. No matter which cabin you're traveling in, some seats are better than others.

Related reading: The best seats on a British Airways 747

British Airways has 12 superjumbo A380s in its fleet. It will start upgrading the existing Club World seat to the new Club Suite product on the A380 from 2023 , with all 12 having the new, superior business-class seat by 2025. BA's decision to install its newest seat on these aircraft indicates that, unlike some other airlines, it has no intention of retiring the A380 anytime soon.

British Airways flies one version of the A380 in a four-class configuration with 14 seats in First, 97 in Club World (business class), 55 in World Traveller Plus (premium economy) and 303 in World Traveller (economy class).

The Club World and World Traveller cabins are split across both levels, and the layouts and configuration are not the same. The upper level is more narrow due to the curvature of the plane, which actually gives passengers more space, as there is at least one — if not two — fewer seats across each row.

Best seats in First on a British Airways Airbus A380

Top picks: 1A, 1K, 2A, 2K

Though the first-class cabin on the BA A380 isn't the most special one — the 747 takes that award — nor the most elegant or modern — that goes to the First seats on the BA Boeing 787-9 — it is the best seat in terms of space and privacy.

Row 1 is usually only available to British Airways Executive Club Gold card members, but if you can secure either 1A or 1K, these can easily be the best seat. They are very private — one can't see any other passengers from the seat and no one can look at passengers seated in those seats. I also often find the temperature a bit cooler in those seats, which, in my books is a good thing, as there's nothing worse than a hot cabin.

Related reading: In love all over again: A review of British Airways first class on the A380 with its new soft product

There's a potential noise downside — a set of cupboards under the front set of stairs. It's worth noting that those stairs don't get used during the flight, and even the crew will rarely use them. But, if the cupboards are used frequently during the flight, you could experience noise issues. Most good crews I've had on this aircraft have emptied the bedding from the cupboards and stored it in the forward door so that access isn't needed during the flight.

Otherwise, I'd pick 2A or 2K as a solo traveler, as the galley — and noise from the crew and kitchen area — is at the back. For those traveling with others, I'd also go as far forward as possible. It's worth noting that buddy dining is possible in this seat, and the buddy seat (the footrest of the main seat) is the widest in the BA fleet. So if you are a lover of views and traveling with a partner, it might be worth selecting two window seats and dining/lounging together.

Best seats in Club World on a British Airways A380

Top picks: 53A, 53K, 59A, 59K, 15A, 15K

For those traveling in Club World on the A380, the big decision and difference in terms of comfort is upstairs vs. downstairs. The curvature of the aircraft means the upstairs cabin is narrower than the downstairs cabin, but that actually means that British Airways has adopted a 2-3-2 layout upstairs whilst sticking with the usual 2-4-2 layout downstairs.

For that reason, I would always pick a seat upstairs as the cabin is less dense. Additionally, and further helping with a feeling of a less-crowded cabin, the upstairs business-class cabin is split between two mini-cabins of four rows, whilst it's just one bigger section of six rows downstairs.

Related reading: Flight review: British Airways A380 Club World — Washington, D.C. to London

That split also means there are more desirable seats upstairs as my advice is to pick a window seat in the last row of a cabin. For that reason, the best seats are upstairs and they are 53A and 53K as well as 59A and 59K. Now, if those are taken and 15A or 15K are available, I'd probably accept a denser cabin downstairs in return for the benefits of those window seats in the last row.

Other good seats on the A380 are actually the middle seats upstairs, as they give some extra privacy. Again, the best ones are in the last row — 53E and 59E, which avoid the issue of climbing over your neighbor.

Couples or those traveling together might find the downstairs middle seats good, as they are often described as couple seats. The yin-yang layout of the window and aisle seats also means that those in A and B seats pretty much face each other, so those are also good options for those wishing to be social with their travel companion.

Best seats in World Traveller Plus/premium economy on a British Airways A380

Top picks: 61A & 61K

The A380 is probably the best aircraft to be flying World Traveller Plus, BA's premium economy cabin. Given the mentioned curvature of the aircraft, the World Traveller Plus cabin is in a 2-3-2 layout upstairs, whilst all other premium economy cabins with BA are 2-4-2. The cabin feels both less dense and crowded, and there's plenty of extra space that's not normally the case in this cabin.

That extra space includes a side bin for extra storage, which is another reason why this is the best aircraft for flying premium economy. This side bin allows for ample extra storage but is also a handy space for things like drinks, books and laptops.

Applying the usual rule for premium economy and economy that front row window seats are the best because they give both extra legroom space and allow getting out of the seat without needing to climb over or disturb one's neighbor, my top picks are Row 61 window seats — 61A and 61K. In addition, 60D and 60F are decent seats for the same reasons — though they don't have a window.

For couples traveling together, those front row window pairs are great, though any other window pairs will also work.

Best seats in World Traveler/economy on a British Airways Airbus A380

Top picks: 70A, 70K, 80A, 80K, 20A, 20K, 35A, 35K

When looking at economy seats on BA's A380, a combination of factors from the above come into play.

The World Traveller cabin is also split over both floors with two larger sections in a 3-4-3 layout downstairs and two smaller sections in a 2-4-2 layout upstairs. Similar to World Traveller Plus, seats upstairs in a front row are arguably the best British Airways long-haul economy class seats, as they are in a less dense cabin and provide the same side bins for extra storage space.

Related reading: Review: British Airways A380 World Traveller economy — Johannesburg to London

My top picks are 70A and 70K as well as 80A and 80K. If upstairs is not available, though downstairs is denser and does not have the side bins, 20A and 20K, as well as 35A and 35K, provide similar front row window seats.

For couples or those traveling with companions, if front row seats are not available, any of the upstairs window pair seats (A&B or J&K) are great.

Bottom line

As we've said before, picking the right seat can help improve almost any flight in any cabin, so avoid being that person who gets randomly assigned a seat by the airline.

The British Airways A380 has — maybe not surprisingly, given the size and space — some of the best seats available in most cabins, so it should be a favorite if you have a choice. That's not because the airline was feeling generous when designing the layout, but because the nature of the plane and its curvature forced a certain setup, which we, as passengers, can benefit from if picking the right seat.

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KLM World Business Class Flight Review

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

KLM is the national carrier of the Netherlands and a member of the SkyTeam alliance. Its Amsterdam Airport Schiphol hub is one of the busiest in Europe, connecting passengers around the globe.

The airline also enjoys a joint venture with Delta Air Lines and Air France, and as a result, it carries significant connecting traffic from North America to points in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

I was aboard one of my regular flights from Atlanta to Amsterdam (typically, I take the 10:30 p.m. departure), and my experience was as pleasant as usual. Here’s what you can expect on an overnight flight with KLM in World Business Class .

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

Check-in, security and lounge access

My business class boarding pass gave me SkyPriority access , and this expedited my check-in and security screening process. I was able to head straight for the Delta Sky Club . In Atlanta, KLM passengers can access any of the Sky Clubs, and I chose to head straight for the Terminal F lounge since it has an outdoor Sky Deck and my flight was departing from that terminal.

(Photo by Ramsey Qubein)

The lounge had a crowd, but it began to thin out as the night wore on, given my late departure. I was able to tuck into some of the buffet options, which included salads, hot proteins, fresh fruit and soup.

There was also an open bar, all of which are the standard, elevated Sky Club experience, and I loved that this lounge had a popcorn machine.

While Delta nixed the option to access Sky Clubs for SkyTeam Elite Plus passengers in the SkyMiles program flying economy and premium economy, access is still available to top-elite members of other airline programs in SkyTeam.

The lounge is also open to those with The Platinum Card® from American Express , among other cards. Also, anyone who becomes an individual member for $695 each year (or by paying 69,500 miles) can access the lounge when flying Delta or SkyTeam. All of these rules are set to change in 2024 . Terms apply.

» Learn more: Which cards get me Delta Sky Club access?

Boarding and seats

Passengers boarded by zone quickly, and I was happily aboard one of KLM’s newly transfigured Boeing 777-300ERs with all-aisle access in World Business Class. This means a 1-2-1 configuration that provides all-aisle access.

The planes that have this favorable seating also have the new Premium Comfort (premium economy) cabin; planes that do not have premium economy have the 2-2-2 seating configuration.

» Learn more: The best first class airline in the U.S.

The seats have a fixed shell for privacy, and recline to 180 degrees at the touch of a button. It was actually too easy to touch the button by mistake while leaning on the armrest, and the seat would immediately start reclining. The tray table easily folds out of the side, and even when extended, it was easy to reach the touch-screen entertainment options.

A blanket and pillow were waiting at my seat as was a bottle of water. A small closet opened to reveal a mirror and noise-reducing headsets. I really loved the wireless charging panel on the armrest, which worked very well, even through my phone case. A small storage area is beneath the screen, and there are additional USB and power outlets within reach.

You’ll want to keep a close eye on the KLM seat map for your flight, as some aircraft, including some Boeing 777 and Airbus A330, still have a 2-2-2 configuration in business class. In this configuration, not every passenger has aisle access, so you may have to climb over your seat mate.

No matter what wide-body plane you are on with KLM, you are always assured of a flat-bed seat in World Business Class.

Once most passengers were seated, the flight attendants came around with their signature tray of crystal stem glasses with sparkling wine, water or Heineken beer. I perused the menu in my seat (KLM personalizes these menus for each flight with the departure and destination, as well as departure date) and amenity kit. Before I knew it, we were off.

In-flight experience

Given the late-night departure, the dinner service is a bit abbreviated. There is an aperitif service with the option between mixed nuts and Dutch cheese. After this first drink trolley, the entire meal is presented altogether on one tray. On flights that depart earlier in the evening or on daytime flights, the pace is more leisurely with a soup and salad with warm bread after the aperitif. Drinks are constantly topped up.

Then the hot main meal arrives, but on a late-night departure, the carrier chooses to prioritize sleep. This means the late-night meal is different than the normal long-haul experience. I enjoyed a sampler with a chicken quesadilla, small salad, shrimp and vegetarian wrap. It was more of a hearty snack.

If you’re on a day flight, the meals will be served in courses with a soup and salad option before the main dish.

Ninety minutes before landing, the mood lights slowly turned on. (They’re meant to simulate the sun rising.) The smell of coffee wafted through the air, and soon, breakfast options were arriving with the choice of sweet or savory. I went with the Denver omelet, which came on an English muffin and was wrapped up like a breakfast sandwich. It came with a side of cheese, meat and oatmeal with fruit.

While this was not the case on my late-night flight, KLM does offer a dine-on-demand service on several long-haul routes. You can choose when you want to enjoy your first and second meals. After the meal, coffee, tea and chocolates are offered.

All of KLM’s in-flight service ware is the handiwork of Dutch designer Marcel Wanders, and the blue patterns and Dutch design provide a lovely sense of place.

In-flight entertainment

KLM has touch-screen and remote control-operated entertainment screens that have a decent range of movies, short-subject films, sitcoms and music to enjoy. Given the late departure, I did not watch more than the moving map to see where the aircraft was and how fast we were flying. On day flights, though, I enjoy the variety of international programming.

KLM still produces its popular Holland Herald in-flight magazine, which includes route maps for the airline, city guides for its destinations, and thoughtful articles about travel and culture. A favorite for me is the section on aviation, where pilots and experts in the industry share insider details on how planes operate.

Not all aircraft are equipped with Wi-Fi, and the service is not free. On my late-night flight, I chose to sleep instead of work. The cost, even in business class, is 8 euros (~$9) for an hour, 18 euros (~$19) for the entire flight and 30 euros (~$32) for a streaming pass for the flight (on A330 and B777 aircraft only). Messaging is free.

Other perks of KLM business class

Before landing, KLM has a ritual in World Business Class, and it’s one that turns ordinary professionals into giddy collectors. The airline gives away a complimentary Delft-style house to business class passengers its long-haul flights. Guests can choose their gift in the app, ideally picking one their collection is missing.

There are 104 in total (one for each year that KLM has been in operation). Officially, KLM is the oldest airline in the world operating under the same name.

Additional perks include:

Extra checked bag allowance. Two bags are allowed per passenger with a maximum weight of 32 kilograms (about 70 pounds). Those who book a “light fare” can check only one bag, however.

In-flight snacks. In between meals, a basket with snacks is available near the galley. It includes chocolates, nuts and the famous Dutch stroopwafel cookies.

A great World Business Class flight with KLM

Even if you're not visiting the Netherlands, a flight with KLM feels like you spent some time sampling Dutch flavors and culture for a few hours.

The onboard entertainment, menus, in-flight magazine and the Delft blue house parting gift all lend itself to that. And in World Business Class, you get to take a piece of that home with you for your collection, too.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

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I’ve travelled the world – why I always fly economy even though I can afford business class flights

• Aiya Zhussupova , Foreign News Reporter
• Published : 20:38, 4 May 2024
• Updated : 20:39, 4 May 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

A TRAVEL writer, who owns a multi-million company, has revealed why he prefers to fly economy instead of a business class.

Even though Rick Steves could easily afford to splash on a comfier cabin for his flights, he believes business class should be scrapped altogether.

The 68-year-old built a travel empire with his company, which employs more than 100 people and makes $120million in revenue a year.

He's been a pioneer in discovering unpaved travel routes in Europe for Americans and has popularised many hidden gem destinations.

But despite being a millionaire, you might surpisingly find the travel mogul sitting next to you in an economy class.

Even though Steve spends about three months a year overseas and often takes long-haul flights, he doesn't mind the cramped seats.

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He told Washington Post: "“It never occurred to me that I’m suffering.

“As long as I’ve got an aisle and a seat that reclines, I’m happy.”

That's because Steve holds egalitarian worldview - an idea that all people are equal and should have the same rights and opportunities.

The travel expert even suggests to abolish economy and first-class altogether - and leave just one cabin for everyone.

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He also refuses to sign up for airlines loyalty programs which he believes are made to "complicate our lives".

As a true egalitarian, Steve often donates a portion of his fortune to charities and causes close to his heart, as he gave away his $4million apartment to a local non-profit.

Steve often opts for the back of the plane - the most hated seat amongst travellers .

Flight attendants warn passengers not to sit there if they don't like  experiencing turbulence,  with planes shaking much more at the back than they do at the front.

What's more, passengers who  sit at the back  have longer to wait to get off once the plane has landed than those who sit nearer the front, due to the way people disembark.

But despite that, another frequent flyer shares in Steve's preference, insisting that booking the very back row has many positives.

The back seat of the plane has other admirers too, with one of them being  flight attendant Annie Kingston  who said people who sit there could get extra freebies that other people don't.

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Book premium economy with this airline – it’s the closest you can get to business class

W e’ve all ordered the second-cheapest bottle of wine on the menu, but what about the second-cheapest cabin on the aircraft: premium economy? Is it worth the 50 to 100 per cent bump on economy fares?

The world’s largest airlines would like us to think so. They’re installing bigger, better cabins faster than you can say “upgrade”. The number of premium economy seats on all airlines on an annual basis is projected to treble from 4,000 in 2021 to 11,145 next year, aviation analysts Counterpoint say. 

But, at first glance, the argument for upgrading is not so convincing. Take a look at the cabin. You certainly don’t get 50-100 per cent more space. The seats are only a few inches bigger – although the legroom is 5-6” greater and the seats come with calf- or footrests or both and double arm rests.

The cost per square inch calculation changes, however, if you are travelling in a pair. Grab the window and aisle seat pair and you and your companion have your own row. Almost all economy window and aisle row seats on long-haul jets come in sets of three while premium is 2-4-2 or 2-3-2. 

Snag the front row and no-one can recline their seat into your face and you can get up to stretch your legs or go to the loo without disturbing your companion. Throw in the fact that some premium cabins have as few as 20-odd seats, compared with the 200-plus in economy, and the price bump suddenly appears to be much better value. 

Things get better when you consider the other perks. Most airlines allow premium economy passengers to check in using a dedicated line and to board just after business-class passengers. Baggage allowance is also more generous. 

Now that you’re sitting comfortably, what’s next? The clue’s in the name. Economy. Airlines don’t want to offer a business class-style in-flight service lest too many high-paying business class passengers opt to downgrade. Business-class cabins may make up only one third of the space on a long-haul aircraft but they generate up to 70 per cent of the profits. 

That said, service is improving. Singapore Airlines and Japan’s ANA now offer champagne and the wines on Emirates are as good as business class on some other carriers. All airlines are offering better food and drink, usually served in china crockery and glassware, not plastic. You will be also served more quickly than in economy because the cabin is smaller.

The amenities tend to be basic. You’ll get earplugs, a toothbrush, a flimsy eye shade, a slightly less cheap-feeling blanket and pillow than in economy, and headphones that cancel noise – a bit. You are better off taking your own kit. For overnight flights, I recommend sculpted foam eye shades which enable you to blink easily, Hearos earplugs, and eucalyptus oil nose drops to ward off colds. Melatonin tablets help you to nod off and Elemis instant refreshing gel wakes you up in the morning. And, not sexy I know, but compression socks do help prevent blood clots. 

Boarding and getting off is quicker and easier since the premium economy cabin is in front of economy. Emirates leads here because its premium economy cabin is at the front of the lower deck of the Airbus A380 so you can use the front left-hand door. All other passengers on the lower deck use the middle door. 

The similarities between carriers generally outweigh the differences but there are distinctions which might help you make a choice. Emirates has the snazziest cabin, with cream leather and wood veneer, and it is staffed by a team of cabin crew dedicated to premium economy passengers. On the A380, it offers the best loo-to-passenger ratio – a generous three bathrooms for 56 passengers. The Dubai-based carrier currently has 27 A380s with a premium economy cabin that serve routes between Dubai and London Heathrow, Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Christchurch, Singapore, Los Angeles, New York/JFK, Houston, San Francisco, Mumbai, Bengaluru, São Paolo and Tokyo Narita.

Virgin Atlantic calls premium economy Premium, which is way better than British Airways’ word salad of World Traveller Plus . Virgin’s leather seats, softer lighting and more attentive service make its Premium feel more, well, premium than BA’s. On Virgin’s new A330Neo jet the seats have wireless phone charging and there is a self serve snack bar called the Wonderwall.

BA points out that members of its Executive Club loyalty programme earn generous tier points in World Traveller Plus, so it is a good cabin to book if you want to move up from Bronze status to Silver or Gold. On a return flight from London to New York JFK, the lowest premium economy ticket earns you 140 more tier points than the lowest economy ticket.

Qantas ’ is raising the bar on its new Airbus A350 jets, which will soon start flying the 20 hours non-stop from London and New York to Sydney and Melbourne. The 40-inch pitch (the measure of leg room) is two inches more than Qantas’s current premium economy and the same offered by Emirates, currently the class leader. There’s more privacy, too. “We’re redesigning the head rest to create a more pronounced wingback chair to give more visual seclusion, which is great if you’re travelling alone,” says Qantas’s designer David Caon. Caon is also refining “a new special pillow that integrates with the headrest and becomes part of the seat.”

The new seat will aid sleep. “You get a better recline, less because the seat back goes back more, and more because the bottom of the seat tracks forward and juts up, that gives you more of a ‘slung’ position. Combined with the footrest, it’s more like the old cradle seats that airlines used to have in business class,” Caon says.  

ANA, meanwhile, is the only airline to offer premium economy passengers lounge access and drinks from the business class menu on board. 

Singapore Airlines ’ passengers can use its popular ‘Book the Cook’ service to pre-order meals, but be careful: if you pre-order a meal, it’s hard to swap seats if you spot a better one that is free, since your meal is allocated to your seat. On its Airbus A350 jets from the Lion City to New York, it also offers six coveted single window seats at the rear of the plane. There is a new Out of the Woods amenity kit on flights longer than seven hours. (It is not clear why it has this name). 

Lufthansa ’s premium-economy seats are in the same cabin as economy, which betrays a complete misunderstanding of the class system at 39,000ft. All the cabins on the major American carriers have leather seats – but somehow manage to look cheap. 

What’s the bottom line? Premium economy is not as good value as business class since, pound for pound, you get more space and more perks in business over premium economy than you do in premium economy over economy. But choose the right carrier for your needs and snag the best seats and it can be money very well spent indeed.

Premium perks 

Virgin atlantic: best for hungry fliers.

Generous service complemented by the best pantry full of snacks and drinks that you can raid at any time. You can also use the fast-track security when leaving New York’s JFK. 

British Airways: best for night flights

A generous eight-inch seat recline makes BA a good bet for night flights. Book the A380 and you’ll be sitting upstairs so you can, in effect, look down on economy passengers. (It’s the little things…) 

Emirates: closest to business class

The closest you’ll get to business class with a plush cabin, three bathrooms, class-leading food and wine. I recommend the Thai pepper beef with jasmine rice, with  a glass or two of the Château d’Aiguilhe, Côtes de Castillon 2012, St Emilion.

ANA: best for lounge access

The Japanese carrier is the only one to offer lounge access and drinks from the business-class menu.  

Singapore Airlines: best for comfort

The best seats on any carrier, provided you’re on the mammoth, 19-hour trek from Singapore to New York. There are six solo window seats at the back of the Airbus A350-900ULR that it uses for this, the world’s longest flight, with their own storage bins between each seat and the window.

Qantas: best for heading Down Under

The best value and comfort to Australia is premium economy on Qantas’s Boeing 787 direct flight from London to Perth – and soon on direct flights from London and New York to Sydney and Melbourne. After all, who wants to spend up to 20 hours in economy?

Finnair: best value for Asia

With an elegant cabin of only 21 seats on its long-haul Airbus A330s and 24 on its Airbus A350s, Finland’s flag carrier offers a smaller cabin than most carriers and is often better value than BA on routes to Asia, but you will have to change planes in Helsinki.   

This article was first published in February 2023 and has been revised and updated.

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